Wire-stretcher



No. 590,219. Patented Sept. 21,1897.`

WIZWESSE'S UNiTnD STATES lPATENT Tirion..

SAMUEL A. GRUBB, oF ELMwooD, ILLINOIS.`

wlrua-s'rruzrcsl-iER.`

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 590,219, dated September 21, 1897.

' Application het July 31,1896. serial No. 601,226. da modem T0 LZZ` whom t may concern,.- i

Be it known that LSAMUEL A. GRUBB,a citizen of the United States, residing at Elmwood,

in the county of Peoria and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvem ents in Wire-Stretchers; and I do hereby declare the following to be afull, clear, and exactdescription of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to certainy new and useful improvements in wire-stretchers, the object of the same being to provide a device of this character which is adapted to be fixed in operative position on the fence-post to which the wire is to be attached and to otherwise simplify and improve -upon the construction of the devices of a similar character now in use.

The invention consists of a frame made up of a horizontal beam having bifurcated outer ends, means for locking said frame directly to the fence-post', a pair of clamping gearwheels mounted in the bifurcated ends of said beam, one of said wheels having forked teeth and provided with an operating-handle, and the other of said wheels having the shaft upon which it is mounted pivoted in the end of the frame, by means of which said wheel may be thrown out of engagement with the other of said wheels.

The invention also consists in other details of construction and combination of parts, which will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the drawings forming a part of this speciication, Figure 1 represents a side elevation of my improved device applied to a fencepost. Fig.` 2 is a top plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is a central horizontal section. Fig. 4f is a detail perspective view of one of the clamping gearwheels. Fig. 5 is a similar View of the other clamping gear-wheel. Fig. G is a section on the line x of Fig. 2.

Like reference-numerals indicate like parts in the different views.

The frame of my stretcher is made up of a horizontal beam 1, having bifurcated outer ends 2 and 3, as clearly shown. Extending outwardly from one end of the beam l is-a casing 4, in which is slidingly mounted a clamping-jaw 5, through which proJects an adjusting-screw 6, having a head or handle 7 upon its outer end. .The said casing 4i is suitably braced and supported by an angularly-arran ged bracin g-beam 8. Similar bracing rods or wires 9 are also secured to the upper and lower sides of the beam 1 for preventing displacement ofthe frame when it is secured to the fence-post. Said fence-post is represented by the numeral IO, and my device is shown clamped thereto in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The clamping-.jaw 5 is adapted to be moved backward and forward in its sliding bearings in the casing 4 by means of the screw G.

Mounted to rotate betweenthe bifurcated ends 2 3 of the beam 1 are clamping gearwheels 11 and 12, respectively. The wheel 11 is provided with a crankor handle 13, by means of which it may be readily turned in its bearing, and also has a series of notches or perforations 14' 14 in its outer edge, into which is adapted to be inserted a pawl or dog 15, fulcrumed upon the side of the arm 2. The said wheel 1l has forked teeth 16 16, which are milled or roughened upon their outer edges, as clearly shown. of the wheel 12 is pivoted or otherwise movably secured `to the outer end of the frame 1, so that it may be swung into or out of engagement with the wheel 1l. It is adapted to be held in its closed or operative position with the wheel 1l by means of the hook or other locking device 18, pivoted to the side of the arm Secured to the beam 1, on the under side thereof, is a bracket 19, in which is a camshaped clamping-jaw 20, having a handle 21 thereon.

My device has now been sufficiently described, it is thought, to enable the operation thereof to be readily understood. Briefly stated, it is as follows: The frame 1 is first clamped to the fence-post 1Q by screwing up the clamping-jaw 5 into engagement with said post in the manner heretofore set forth. rlhe shaft 17 is then unlocked and the wheel 12 thrown outwardly on its pivotal connection with the arm 2. The line-wire of the fence is then passed around the rear end of the wheel 11, and the wheel 12 is immediately thrown back into engagement with the wheel 11 and locked in place by the fastening de- The shaft 17 i IOO vice 18. Vhen in this position, the line-wire is securely clamped between the projecting milled teeth of the wheels l2 and 11. To tighten said line-wire or increase the tension thereof, the crank 18 is turned so as to rotate the wheel 11. As the wheels 11 and 12 are in Contact with each other at all times during the operation of my device, a continuous and unyielding clamp for the wire is provided, so that the turning of the wheel 11 will draw the line-wire tightly between the two fenceposts. When the proper tension has been given to the wire, the pawl 15 is inserted into one of the perforations 14c in the wheel 11, so as to prevent the backward movement thereof. A staple or other securing device is then driven into the post 10 around the line-wire, securing the latter permanently in place. This operation may be continued at each fence-post until the whole fence has been built.

In case it should be desired to splice a broken wire one end thereof may be secured between the cam-shaped face of the clamping-bar 2O and the bracket 19, in which said bar is mounted. The other end of the Wire may then be drawn tightly from the fence, leaving the end thereof adjacent to the clamp 10 free to 'be twisted or otherwise spliced upon the opposite end of said wire.

Having now described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a wire l stretcher, the combination with the frame thereof and means for clamping the same to a fence-post, of a pair of clamping-wheels mounted to rotate in said frame and means for throwing said wheels out of gear with each other.

2. In a wire stretcher, the combination with the frame thereof and means for clamping the said frame to a fence-post, of a pair of clamping gear-wheels mounted to rotate in said frame one of said wheels being provided with forked teeth and the other adapted to mesh therewith having its shaft pivotally mounted in said frame, whereby said wheels may be thrown into and out of gear with each other.

3. In a wire stretcher, the combination with the frame thereof made up of a beam having bifurcated outer ends, and a clamp for securing said beam to the fence-post, of a pair of clamping gear-wheels mounted to rotate between the bifurcated ends of said beam, one of said wheels having forked teeth with milled or roughened outer edges and a series of notches or perforations in one side thereof adapted to be engaged by a pawl pivoted to said beam, and the other of said wheels having its shaft pivoted to one of the ends of said beam and adapted to be locked to the. other end of said beam when the parts are in operative position, substantially as and for the purpose described.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

SAMUEL A. GRUBB. Vitnesses:

F. W. HYNE, MARTHA RIEL. 

